MERGE 2026 - AI-Driven Development × Design

MERGE 2026 - AI-Driven Development × Design redefined.AI-driven development is shifting from a few experiments to the "standard" of production.MERGE 2026 is the crossroads where AI-driven development (super fast implementation capability) meets design (human sensitivity). Leaders at the frontlines of every field come together to create insights to "merge" that co-create the next generation of development methods that "create" alongside AI and the designs that bring them to life.Event date: August 8, 2026 (Saturday) 10:00 - 20:00 (including Merge Night) Event format: Hybrid (Offline + Online Viewing) Offline location: Sakura Internet Inc. Office (32F Sumitomo Realty Nishi-Shinjuku Building, 7-20-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) Expected attendance: 200 offline + more than 300 online Organized by: GustoDevelopment Protocore / AI-Driven Development Community / Next AI Leaders Official website: https://merge-2026-aiux.vercel.appSpeakersKazunari Ito (伊東和成) - COO, Third Scope Inc. Annual Top Contributor on Qiita / 100,000 followers on X. Spoke in a parliamentary session with a minister on the theme "Social Implementation of Generative AI." Author of "One-Line Prompt." Hosts a conference promoting "Real Connections in the AI Age" with key business leaders from LINE, Yahoo, and PwC.Rei Sonoda (園田 励) - CEO, PROTOCORE Inc. Business development producer specializing in new business development, product planning, and UX. Contributed to the profitability of the matching service "with" as Producer / UX. After founding AiHUB, accepted by GENIAC (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). Has three exit experiences. Currently focusing on AI product and AI agent development at PROTOCORE.Kosuke Ai (藍 光祐) - CEO, GustoDevelopment Inc. Supports businesses in DX and usage in the areas of AI and blockchain. Started his career as PM in a data analysis company, has experience in business development for domestic chains and as CTO of AI-related companies. Has won awards at multiple hackathons. Main content session: Delivering five key sessions at the intersection of AI-driven development and design.Session 1 [Design]: Democratisation of Creation. Discussing the redefinition of UI/UX roles as generative AI blurs the lines between professionals and non-experts. Session 2 [Dev]: Agent-Driven Development (Agentic Workflows). Addressing the transition to a new era where AI autonomously handles requirement definition, implementation, and testing. Session 3 [Business]: Redefining 0→1. Analyzing the new processes for business validation transformed by accelerating and lowering costs for MVP development. Session 4 [Design]: "UI/UX" in 2050. A visionary session depicting medium to long-term design experiences without screens. Session 5 [Business]: The Frontlines of AI × New Business Introductions. Discussing the reality of social implementation in areas such as finance and infrastructure, where robustness is crucial.Schedule10:00 - Doors open, registration, sponsor booths open 10:20 - Opening Keynote: Current State of AI-Driven Development 10:45 - Session 1 [Design]: Democratisation of Creation 11:50 - Session 2 [Dev]: Agent-Driven Development 12:30 - Lunch & Networking 13:35 - Session 3 [Business]: Redefining 0→1 14:40 - AI Designathon 2026: Final Presentations & Awards 15:25 - Session 4 [Design]: "UI/UX" in 2050 16:05 - Session 5 [Business]: The Frontlines of AI × New Business Introductions 17:20 - Merge Night (Networking Party) 20:00 - Merge Night closes (Including sponsor pitches, breaks, and networking time.) Ticket types: To promote the intersection of AI-driven development and design, we offer tickets that can be selected based on purpose and style.1. STANDARD (Day Only) - FreeSuitable for: On-site engineers, designers, students, and creators interested in AI. Content: Participation in all sessions from 10:00 to 17:30, participation in workshops, exploring booths.2. STANDARD (With Networking Party) - 3,000 yenSuitable for: On-site engineers, designers, students, and creators interested in AI. Content: Participation in all sessions from 10:00 to 17:30, participation in workshops, exploring booths + Merge Night (networking party with food and drinks) participation rights.3. GUEST PASS (Invitation Only) - FreeSuitable for: Sponsor invitation slots, speaker guests, press personnel. Content: Full access to all sessions, participation rights for Merge Night (networking party with food and drinks). *The location pass will take on a hacker style (Silicon wristband or neck ribbon laminated pass) and we will offer color symbols per profession (Red: Engineer, Blue: Designer, Green: Business).We genuinely look forward to welcoming you.